1916 Summary

"The names of last year's men now wearing kahki are:-
Baud, Challis, Burleigh, Triplett, Calwell, Gordon, E. Brown, Muir and Fielding. Dick and Keily offered their services, but were not accepted owing to physical defects."
"Carlton will probably be lead by W. Dick with McGregor as lieutenant. They will have a large number of new men to try out. Among those who names are on the list are Keast, from Boulder City; Canet (forward), from Brunswick Juniors; Smith, from Tocumwal; (W) Swan, from Shepparton, McCullough, from a local church team; White and Dunne, Carlton District Juniors; and Caddy from Brunswick."
(Age April 22 p9)

The first world war meant that their was a huge shortage of players for the 1916 season, with only Carlton, Collingwood, Fitzroy, and Richmond being able to field teams. Despite enormous pressure, the VFL decided not to cancel the competition, and so the season went ahead with only 4 teams playing each other 3 times each for a 12 round season.

This meant that all four teams automatically reached the finals, and as a direct result Richmond played in its first final. Fitzroy also managed to win the premiership after winning 3 finals in a row, despite only winning 2 games and drawing another for the season.

After winning 10 games during the season, Carlton would narrowly beat Richmond in its Semi Final, before losing to Fitzroy in the Preliminary Final, after being reduced to 16 men before halftime. After finishing as minor premiers with 10 wins, we had the right to challenge Fitzroy in the Grand Final and went on to contest our third Grand Final in a row. The reigning dual premiers, Carlton, lost to Fitzroy by 29 points after scoring 8.8.56 to Fitzroy's 12.13.85.

On an aside, Alex "Bongo" Lang returned to play for Carlton in 1916, after serving a 5 year ban for accepting a bribe in 1910. He was one of three Carlton players stood down from the selected team to play South Melbourne in the 1910 Semi Final. Lang would complete his career after playing 105 games for Carlton.

Footnote

At the Carlton AGM in January; "Regarding the proposal to curtail the season on the account of war, it was felt that the playing of football on Saturday afternoons had no adverse effect on recruiting, but it was a relaxation for the public from the serious problems of business and war, and that it would be unwise to deprive thousands of people that source of recreation.The club proposes to carry out the season's matches as usual, and to hand over to the war funds whatever surplus there is after paying expenses."

Football

vs Pioneer Battalion

April 22
The Blues played a military team calling themselve the "Pioneer Battalion" from Broadmeadows at Princes Park.
"The soldiers showed a fine even team, well trained, whilst Carlton tried several new players, who were rather on the light side."
(Essendon Gazette April 27 p1)
The soldiers had a number of senior players including former Carlton skipper, Fred Elliott
The home side took the opportunity to try out a few juniors and some of the senior players were in need of a run.
Carlton lost by 47 points;
Carl; 0.0 2.0 2.0 3.2.20
PBat; 3.2 7.4 10.5 10.7.67
Best; Hammond, Dick Kelly, White, Haughton, Dunne and Fisher.
.

FOOTBALL AMONG SHRAPNEL

Five Players Wounded

From the Western Front in France, Frank Doyle one the VFL stewards, wrote to James Stewart vice president of the Carlton Football Club about the Diggers' attempts to play football behind the front line.
This story was published in the Northern Star, Lismore NSW September 12 1916.
To read, click here> http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92970075